Alarm device



Nov. 12, 1968 KASHDEN ET AL 3,410,245

ALARM DEVI CE Filed June 17, 1966 INVENTORS R PAUL AflSf/DE/Y 1705527 I. LIPSlE/V BY ORNEYS United States Patent 3,410,245 ALARM DEVICE Richard Paul Kashden, East Rockaway, and Robert A.

Larsen, Laurelton, N.Y., assignors to Continental Instruments Corp., Lynbrook, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed June 17, 1966, Ser. No. 558,379 3 Claims. (Cl. 11667) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a burglar alarm device of the type which is desirable for use in an apartment where the only practical entry thereto is by way of the front door.

More specifically, the present invention relates to an alarm device and a jamb for a door assembly to enable the alarm device to be easily and conveniently recessedly mounted in said jamb.

With the ever increasing construction of high-rise apartment houses containing literally hundreds of units it has become increasingly difficult to control and monitor the entrance to the building, facilitating the entry of would-be burglars. As a result, apartment dwellers have come to rely more and more on their own alarm devices for preventing and discouraging the commission of burglary. The alarm device most frequently used for the above mentioned purposes is of the type which is mounted on the inside of the front door of the apartment and which is automatically activated upon opening of the door after a short time delay to permit the disarming of the device by authorized persons provided with a key for such purpose.

Notwithstanding the great need therefor, such alarm devices have heretofore not attained the expected popularity and success. One of the main reasons for the failure to gain wide acceptance is that the mounting of the alarm is usually complex, requiring special skills and tools, if not the services of a trained mechanic. Furthermore, the alarm device, after it has been mounted, creates an awkward visual impression which interferes esthetically with the interior decoration of the apartment.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved means for mounting an alarm device in a door assembly.

Another object is the provision of means for mounting an alarm device in recessed condition within the jamb of a door assembly.

Another object is the provision, in a jamb of a door assembly, of a recess especially adapted to securely receive therein an alarm device.

Another objectis the provision, in a jamb of a door assembly, of a recess in which an alarm device can be mounted in minimum time and without the need for skilled help or special tools.

Another object is the provision, in a jamb of a door assembly, of a recess especially adapted to either securely receive therein an alarm device, or to be closed by a cover therefor, without interfering with the esthetic appearance of said door assembly.

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The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a door assembly provided with the recessed alarm device, in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, in elevation, of a segment of the side jamb member, showing the recess for receiving either the alarm device or dummy cover therefor;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, in elevation, of the dummy cover for the jamb member recess;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, in elevation, of the segment of FIG. 2 with the alarm device secured in the recess; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a door assembly as viewed from the inside of an apartment, said door assembly comprising door frame 10 and the door proper 12, hingedly mounted on the frame for providing access into and out of the apartment.

Frame 10 and particularly side jamb member 14 thereof, is provided with alarm device 16 which is recessed therein, as more fully described hereafter by reference to FIGS. 2 through 5.

Side jamb member 14, the pertinent segment of which is best shown in FIG. 2, is preferably formed of one piece and comprises inner portion 18-18, lateral portions 20-20', and outer portions 22-22 which are separated by projecting portion 24 which defines a stop to provide an abutment 26 which contacts door 12 when in a closed position. lamb 14 is seen to be substantially U-shaped with the lateral portions 20, 20' forming the two legs of the U, and the outer portion 22 forming the base of the U. The abutment 24 is positioned approximately in the center of the base of the U.

The recess for alarm device 16 is defined by a uniform width cutout 28 in jamb member 1-4 extending between edge 30 of inner portion 18 and edge 32 of abutment 26. Longitudinally of jamb member 14, cutout 28 extends between edges 34 and 36 in lateral portion 20 and edges 38 and 40 in outer portion 22.

Cutout 28 can be conveniently closed, when no alarm device is used, by means of cover 42 shown in FIG. 3. Cover 42 is preferably a uniform width one piece member consisting of outer portion 44, intermediate portion 46 and inner portion 48. Portions 44 and 46 of cover 42 have substantially the same dimensions as cutout 28 whereby insertion of cover 42 therein will completely close the recess in jamb member 14, and upon such insertion, inner portion 48 will abut the inner surfaces of jamb portions 18 and 18'.

Cover portion 44 is preferably slightly larger than the cutout portion closed thereby so that edge 49 thereof projects inwardly of the jamb and is thus not exposed.

A pair of brackets 50 and 52, secured to the inner surfaces of outer portion 22 as by welding, project into the recess and are provided with threaded apertures 54 and 56. Outer portion 44 of cover 42 is provided with apertures 58 and 60 which come into alignment with apertures 54 and 56, when cover 42 is in its proper closing position and cover .42 is maintained in said closing position by means of screws 62.

The alarm components of alarm device 16 are mounted on a frame 42a which is identical in shape and contour dimensions to previously described cover 42. Frame 42a thus consists of outer portion 44a, intermediate portion 46a, and inner portion 48a, having the same dimensions as portions 44, 46 and 48, respectively. All of the alarm components including lock mechanism 64, indicator light 66, electrical circuitry 68, and sound outlets are provided or mounted on intermediate frame portion 46a and 3 extend into the jamb recess. The alarm device is secured in position by means of screws 62' threaded into apertures 54 and 56 of brackets 50 and 52, precisely in the same manner as cover 42 is secured.

Thus it is seen that alarm device 16 can be installed into place, in accordance with the invention, without special skill and with a screwdriver being the only tool required'Further, when the alarm device is properly installed, there is no interference with the interior decor of the apartment as the entire unit'is recessed within the jamb and the only unconcealed parts are the lock 64 which mustbe accessible and the light 66 which must be visible in order to indicate to the user that the alarm has been properly set. i u

Alarm device 16 is preferably of the type which operates on the principle that the opening of the door breaks a magnetic circuit which energizes the alarm circuitry to produce the desired audible alarm signal. For such type of alarm device, there is provided a small permanent' magnet 72 (see FIG. 1) recessed in the door and located so as to be in confronting relation with the jamb mounted alarm device when the door is closed.

It will also be noted that if no alarm device is desired, the recess is closed by cover 42 without creating any significant interference with the overall appearance of the door assembly. This arrangement enables a new apartment house to have incorporated therein, from the very beginning, a door assembly for each unit with the built in recess and cover plate therefor. In this way, should the tenant desire the alarm device, he can easily install it without difficulty in the manner described above, and if no alarm device is desired, the cover 42 is retained in its place. It has been found that the overwhelming majority of tenants in apartment house units equipped with the foregoing arrangement have installed the alarm device in accordance with the invention, resulting in a material decrease of unlawful or unauthorized entries in these units. In this connection, it is of interest to note that in many instances tenants are equally concerned with the abuse of entry privileges by superintendents who have the door key as they are with would-be burglars, and the alarm arrangement of the present invention i a deterrent to both.

For purposes of illustration, the jamb member 14 has been shown as being hollow. It will be understood, however, that when the door assembly is incorporated into the wall structure, the jamb member 14 may be filled with concrete, may be tied into a steel or wooden structure or may otherwise be integrated into the wall. In any case, however, a portion of the jamb member remains hollowed out to define the recess for receiving the alarm device.

In the drawings, while the jamb member 14 has been illustrated as having a cross-section of particular configuration in which lateral portion 20 forms an obtuse angle with outer portion 22, it will be understood that such portions could equally well form a right oracute angle or that such cross-section could be of dilterent configuration entirely.

While the arrangement in accordance with the invention has been described in connection with independent alarm devices, such arrangement lends itself particularly Well to an alarm system monitored from a central location. More specifically, all jamb members of front door assemblies could be prewired with terminals provided at I the jamb recess, all concealed from view. In this the alarm device, when installed, would be directly connected to a central monitoring station so that immediate help therefrom could be supplied When necessary.

While we have hereinshownand described-. the preferred embodiment of ourinvention, .it will be understood-that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, andthat in the illustrated embodiment certain changes inthedetails of construction and in the forir'iancl arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention. within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thusde'scr'ibed our invention,"what-we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentisz, l v 1. A structural assembly adapted to house therein an alarm device in recessed conditioncomprising: (a) a substantially U-shaped door jamb forming per manent part of said structural assembly, the U-shape being formed by two leg portions and a base portion ofsaid jambr, (b) said door jamb having a hollowed p,ortion.therein, (c) a cutout in said door jamb communicatingfwith said hollowed portion, (d) said cutout being struck from one of said leg portions and said base portion, (e) an alarm device carried by a support member, (f) said support member being substantially complementary in shape" to that of saidcutout, and (g) cooperating means on said-door jamb and said support member for removably securing said alarm device in said hollowed portion in recessed condition in place of a cover plate which is adapted to be removably secured to said jamb to cover said cutout when it is not desired to mount an alarm device in said jamb. i 2. A structural assembly as=defined in claim 1 further comprising a door stopping abutment extending outwardly from said base portion of said jamb, the baseportion on. one side of saidabutment defining the part .of said base portion from which said cutout is struck.

3. A structural assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said alarm device is a'magnetic alarm device adapted to be responsive to a magnet mounted on an unhinged side of a ,door which is hingedlymounted at another side thereof to said jamb.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Louis J. cAPoZI, Primary Examiner. 

